TRUCK LOADED WITH 30 ASF-INFECTED SWINE INTERCEPTED IN QC

BY KEVIN GALANG

A TRUCK loaded with 30 pigs from Batangas that tested positive for African swine fever  (ASF) on Monday was intercepted by the authorities in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Arrested were truck driver as Ardy Tolentino, 38; and his helper Henry Olan, 42, both of Bgy. Tipakan, Lipa City, Batangas said a report by the Bulacan police to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr..

Personnel of the Provincial Veterinary Office of Bulacan and the Quezon City Police District intercepted the truck at an ASF checkpoint in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Initial probe showed that the Isuzu truck with plate number TQR 971 loaded with 30 ASF-infected pigs was owned by Isidro Tolentino, 36, also a resident of Bgy. Tipakan, Lipa City.

The infected pigs were set to be delivered to Novaliches in Quezon City when blocked by the operatives.

Escorted by personnel from the Bulacan 1^st Provincial Mobile Force Company, the seized truck was brought to the Provincial Engineering Office in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

The seized ASF-infected swine were taken to a burial site in Bgy. Tabang in Guiguinto.

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and provincial veterinarian Dr. Voltaire Basinang committed the place as burial site for ASF-infected hogs.

Present during the confiscation were Dr. Lei Princess Quilang, division head of the Animal Health and Regulatory Division of Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office and veterinarian Ed Alfredo Zamora of the Bureau of Animal Industry, as well as the over-all supervisor of the National Capital Region checkpoints tasked for the culling and proper disposal of the ASF-infected pigs.

The truck driver and his helper are now under the custody of  the Bureau of Animal Industry.